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Real Haunts in Virginia- Paranormal VA

Did you know Virginia is home to dozens of REAL Haunted Places? From haunted roadways and buildings where the dearly departed still lurk among us, to burial grounds and sacred places that are haunted by spirits who seemingly want to stay in this world, Virginia has some truly eerie landmarks and historical sites that are hot spots for paranormal activity. Virginia's Real Haunts are home to ghosts and spirits year-round - they're not your average Halloween Haunt. Find out all about Virginia's Haunted History, and learn all about haunted places across the state that are plagued with REAL ghosts, ghouls, apparitions, and things that go bump in the night!

Tragedy struck on December 1, 1974 as TWA Flight 514 from Indianapolis to Columbus crashed into the west slope of Mount Weather, killing all 85 passengers and 7 crew members. Since that fateful day there have been reports of strange phenomena in the area of the crash. Visitors have reported feeling as though they were being pushed by invisible forces, hearing phantom screaming, and...
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Bridgewater College is a private four-year coeducational institute founded in 1880. Campus lore has it that one of the campus buildings, Cole Hall, is haunted by its namesake, Dr. Charles Knox Cole. The building was constructed in 1929 at the behest of Cole’s daughter, Virginia Garber Cole Strickler, and Dr. Cole is said to have occupied the auditorium ever since. His ghost has been...
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Founded in 1797, Wayside Inn is said to be the oldest still-operating inn in the United States. Wayside features plenty of rooms for lodging, a tavern, a restaurant, and according to legend, a few ghosts as well! The Inn served as a hospital for both sides during the Civil War, and now apparitions of injured men in both blue and grey uniforms are regularly seen. Room 14 seems to be...
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The Chamberlin Hotel was built in 1927, replacing the nearby Hygeia hotel which was active in the 1800s before being torn down, rebuilt, and then destroyed by a fire in 1920. Today The Chamberlin is an active retirement community scenically located on the Chesapeake Bay, but rumor has it not all residents are still among the living. Rumor has it that the top floor is closed due to...
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The Occoquan Inn occupies a building constructed in 1810 which has continuously operated as an inn or tavern since early in its history. Today diners can find a variety of delicious dishes at the restaurant, but unwitting visitors may find that they’ve bit off a bit more than they can chew! Local legend has it that the Inn is haunted by the spirit of a Native American who died inside...
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The Lafayette Inn has been hosting guests since it opened in 1840, providing lodging and a fine dining in near the Shenandoah Mountains. It is also said to be haunted by the ghost of a Confederate soldier who committed suicide after discovering that his wife had cheated on him with a Union soldier. His ghost is said to wander the halls at night, pistol in hand, searching for the man who...
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Gadsby’s Tavern consists of two buildings, an actual tavern that was built in 1785 and a hotel constructed in 1792. Many of America’s founding fathers visited the tavern, including James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, James Monroe, and George Washington. The hotel also housed two guests at the center of a small tragedy early in its lifespan.
According to local legend, a man...
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Though the famed writer never lived in this 1740 stone house, it is located only blocks away from his Richmond home and contains a variety of Edgar Allan Poe’s original writings and personal belongings. At least three ghosts have been reported as inhabiting the centuries-old home turned museum—two blonde children and a shadowy male figure believed to be Poe himself. The children, who...
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Built in 1830 with an addition constructed in 1850, the Ferry Plantation House is a three-story brick structure that is now recognized a City Landmark. The house is open for several events throughout the year, including Halloween for those interested in learning about its haunted history. As many as eleven ghosts are said to haunt the building, including a former resident named Thomas...
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Established in 1755 for Carter Burwell, Carter’s Grove was a private residence for many years until the death of its last resident in 1964. It opened to the public for several decades before again being sold to a private owner. In the time that it was open, many visitors reported seeing strange occurrences. The apparition of a slave in ragged clothing is said to appear on the grounds;...
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Built in 1838 for William Burwell and his wife, the Avenel House sits on the site of a former plantation. The Ghost of Avenel, a lady wearing a long, white dress and holding a parasol is said to haunt the grounds, often appearing outside of the mansion where she paces around the property. She is believed to have been a former resident. Additional apparitions have been reported as well,...
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As the name implies, Lazy Susan Dinner Theatre is a facility that puts on live shows while guests have a bite to eat. The actors aren’t the only ones putting on a show, however, as a local ghost has taken up residence in the building. The ghost has been known to manifest as lights gliding behind the stage, and also likes to rearrange chairs and place settings.
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The Old Mansion in Bowling Green was built in 1670 as a one-and-a-half story brick structure; it was expanded at some point in the 18th century. It is said that the ghost of Colonel John Waller Hoomes, who built the house, still haunts his old home. His daughter, Sophia, has also been seen about the property, usually riding in a ghostly carriage. A third ghost is said to be that of one...
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Built in 1849 and situated on the oldest highway in the US, Edgewood Plantation was used as a lookout post by Confederate generals who were camped at nearby Berkeley Plantation during the Civil War. One of the house’s then-residents, Lizzie Rowland, kept a watchful eye as she waited for her love to return from the war, but he never did and so her spirit still watches from an upstairs...
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Built in 1925 as The Patrick Henry Hotel, this haunted location is now a mixed-use building which contains retail stores, a restaurant, apartments, and office spaces. The ballroom is said to contain three ghosts who keep a watchful eye on the area. There is another apparition who sits at a table on the second floor, smoking a pipe and kicking the tablecloth with his foot. An elderly...
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Built in 1725 with a substantial brick frame, the Rosewell Plantation House is said to be a hotbed for ghostly sightings. A mysterious lady is said to walk the front steps every night, and the spirits of slaves alleged to have been buried in the cellar walls are also rumored to appear. In 1916 a fire burned down most of the building, leaving behind only brick ruins which are now open...
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Built around 1775 by Patrick Murray, this house is named for John Douglas Brown in 1816 and has remained in his family ever since. It was allegedly visited by George Washington at one point, and is a registered Historic Place. Passersby say that they have seen the ghosts of Revolutionary War soldiers around the home.
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Little is known about the Orrell House’s early history as those records were destroyed during the Civil War, but it is known to have been the home of John Orrell from about 1800 to 1820. Today the historic building is used as a quaint inn in the heart of Williamsburg; it is also said to be haunted. The faucet in one of the bathrooms has reportedly turned itself on numerous times, and...
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This 1912 Gregorian-style brick home is now a Bed and Breakfast conveniently located across from Gypsy Hill Park. The scenic location and home-cooked breakfast may be reason enough for most people to stay the B&B, but ghost hunters will find the home particularly interesting. One of the bedrooms, called “Caroline’s Room,” is said to host numerous apparitions.
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Located on a private 40-acre estate in an 18th century plantation mansion, The Inn at Willow Grove furnishes guests with luxurious accommodations and seclusion from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Evidently the living are not the only ones enticed by Willow Grove, as several spirits have been reported in the building and on the grounds. Apparitions of Confederate soldiers have...
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The Boxwood Bed and Breakfast is located inside a beautiful 1897 southern mansion for Simon Reid Curtis and Nannie Cooke Curtis. The property was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Lucas in 1995, saving the building from potential demolition and leading to its full restoration. When Mrs. Lucas first began restoration work she broke a fingernail and exclaimed aloud that she needed an emery board....
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The Barter Theatre has a rather unique origin, having been thought up by local actor, Robert Porterfield, during the Great Depression. On June 10, 1933 the theater opened for its first production, charging 40 cents per ticket. Patrons did not have to pay in cash, however; as the surrounding community was largely a rural farming town and times were tough, Porterfield accepted the...
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Located off 7 Mile Ford Road, Aspenvale Cemetery is a registered Historic Place which dates back to 1780 and is divided into three sections. The most prominent is distinguished by a “T” shaped limestone and contains the graves of Preston and Campbell family members, including Revolutionary War General William Campbell. The General’s remains were originally stored in a marble table tomb...
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Built in 1856, this octagon-shaped 17-room house was once the center of a 400 acre plot of land owned by Abijah Thomas. Thomas was the proprietor of a textile plant and owned a number of slaves whom he kept at his private residence. Allegedly some of those slaves were horribly abused and now their ghosts haunt the old building, appearing to visitors in shackles, dripping blood. The...
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Originally part of George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate, Woodlawn was bequeathed to his nephew, Lawrence Lewis, and Lewis’ new bride, Eleanor Parke Custis (Martha Washington’s granddaughter), as a wedding present in 1799. The gift included 2,000 acres of land and the commission of a house which took five years to build. The home is now a museum, and is rumored to be haunted by some...
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Despite its name, the Martha Washington Inn and Spa was actually built by War of 1812 hero General Francis Preston in 1832 as a home for his family, which included nine children. The opulent inn does have presidential connections, however, as Harry Truman, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Lady Bird Johnson have all stayed here. The inn also seems to home to a permanent resident—a ghostly young...
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Established in 1986, the Loft Gallery is comprised of 20 artists and presents a wide variety of artistic styles and media. Visitors have reported experiencing paranormal activities in the gallery, mysterious footsteps, creaking floors, and doors closing on their own. One incident which took place in the 1990s involved a painting flying clear off the wall on which it hung. In October...
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Named after William Ramsay, the Scottish merchant who founded Alexandria, the Ramsay House acts a visitor’s center and gift shop for the city. Information, trinkets, brochures, and tickets to local attractions can all be found here. If you’re lucky, you may even see ghosts wearing 18th century clothing, though witnesses say they tend to stay in the basement.
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The old Mills House is believed to date back to 1790 when the main part of the building was originally constructed, and was long rumored to be haunted. Locals say that they have seen the apparition of a woman in an old-fashioned nightgown through the window, and those who have been inside have felt cold spots. Buster Mills was the last occupant of the home and said there were ghosts in...
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Built in the 1770s, this historic home is the only surviving building of the Kenmore Plantation. It was owned by the family of Betty Washington Lewis, George Washington’s younger sister. Rumor has it that Betty’s husband, Colonel Fielding Lewis, has haunted the house since his death in the 1780s. Lewis, who is said to have spent many hours in the upstairs bedroom worrying about money,...
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The Fall Hill Mansion sits in the middle of a former plantation and 8,000 acre parcel of land obtained by Francis Thornton in 1720. It is believed to have been built by Francis Thornton V when he married Sally Innes in 1790. Rumor has it that the building is haunted by Katina, a Sioux princess who acted as a nanny for the Thornton family and is rumored to be buried on the premises....
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Built between 1794 and 1797, Belle Grave Plantation was the home of Major Isaac Hite, Jr., a Revolutionary War veteran and brother-in-law to President James Madison. It was also used as a headquarters by US General Phillip Sheridan during the Civil War in the Valley Campaign of 1864, and was at the center of the Battle of Cedar Creek. It is said to be haunted by a woman in mourning,...
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Castle Hill is a historic home located on the former site of a 600-acre plantation. It remains privately owned and is not open to the public, but visitors say they have seen the ghost of a woman appear in a particular room called the pink bedroom; she is often accompanied by the scent of perfume. Others have said that former owner Amelie Rives also haunts the old home, and that she is...
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Jeters Chapel was erected in 1865, following the conclusion of the Civil War, on land donated by the Jeter family. It is located next to the Brethren Cemetery, and is rumored to be haunted. Some have reported seeing a man dressed in a white robe floating in the center of the cemetery.
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Once a 3500-acre wheat and wool plantation, the Oatlands are now used to host various events throughout the year, including weddings, and are open to the public for visitation. The historic 1804 manor house has been repurposed as a museum and is rumored to be haunted. Witnesses have heard phantom footsteps, heard voices, smelled the scent of roses coming from the upper floor—where no...
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Built in 1890 on a plot overlooking the Elizabeth River, the Glencoe Inn’s original and current owners have both brought a heavy Scottish influence to their peaceful slice of Portsmouth. Perhaps it is the fresh scent of homemade scones then that keeps the spirits of former residents returning to the inn, hoping to join visitors for breakfast. At least one apparition has been spotted in...
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The Weems-Botts House is part of the Historic Dumfries collection of museums and historic places. It is open for tours several days a week, though patrons may find more than historic artifacts and trinkets when they walk in! Visitors say that the old house is haunted, reporting books that fly off the shelves and a bedroom closet door that opens itself up every day.
The house...
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Originally named the Central Lunatic Hospital, Central State Hospital was founded in 1870 as a to treat “colored persons of unsound mind,” making it the first Virginian mental health facility to exclusively cater to the black population. Its name was changed in 1895, following the passing of a state law requiring facilities then known as asylums to instead be called hospitals. The...
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Construction on Fort Monroe finished in 1834, though some form of fortification had existed at the site since 1609 as its location was considered fundamental to the defense of the Chesapeake Bay, Hampton Roads, and more specifically the navigational channel that connected them. During the Civil War the fort was a critical Union stronghold, despite the fact that Virginia was a...
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Adam Thoroughgood came to Virginia in 1621 as an indentured servant and, 15 years later, was granted a land parcel. The house which bears his name was once thought to have been built by him on that parcel, but recent archaeological examinations revealed it was most likely built by one of his grandsons around 1720. Nonetheless, the house still stands and, following a 1957 renovation, has...
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Founded in 1790, the Lancaster Tavern has operated in some form or another as an inn, tavern, and/or restaurant for the majority of its history, though it was a private residence for nearly a century from 1894 to 1982. Today it is a popular Bed & Breakfast as well as a restaurant for those wanting a tasty meal without the overnight accommodations. Local lore has it that one resident...
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Western State Hospital was founded in1825 as the second mental health facility in Virginia, though the first building was not finished until 1828. It was originally named the Western Lunatic Asylum and did not change to its current name until 1894. After the hospital came under control of Dr. Joseph Dejarnette, a noted eugenicist, a new building was erected bearing his name; under his...
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Julep’s is a trendy Richmond restaurant specializing in Southern cuisine and pulling from influences in Atlanta, Charleston, New Orleans, and Savannah. The building was not always an eatery, however; back in 1826 it was a weapons shop owned by James McNaught. One day an apprentice gunsmith named Daniel Denoon got into a spat with McNaught and was shot dead on the premises. Denoon’s...
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Mayhurst Inn occupies a large 1859 plantation house, allowing enough space for eight unique guest rooms and suites. The accommodations must be pleasant, as some guests seem to be staying from beyond the grave! Visitors have reported a general feeling of being watched, and windows have opened by themselves in the Madison Room.
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In recent years the Linden Plantation House was used as a bed and breakfast, but the business has closed and the home is no longer open to the public. While the B&B was still in operation, visitors reported a variety of ghostly activity, including phantom footsteps on the third and fourth floors as well as orange-yellow lights moving through the hallways. Mysterious aromas were often...
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First built around 1750, the Ambler House was once the home of Lydia Ambler. Lydia married her husband, Alexander, in August of 1776, but soon afterwards he went off to fight in the American Revolution. Though she waited patiently for his return, months went by without a single letter from Alexander ever being sent. In his absence, the mansion burned down in 1781, though it was quickly...
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Visitors and past residents of this home have reported seeing the apparition of a sad, elderly man on the staircase. The spirit is believed to be that of Benjamin Green, a bank clerk who had his reputation shattered when the bank falsely accused him of pilfering money from it. The house remains a private residence and is not open for public visitation.
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Founded in 1839, VMI has the distinction of being the oldest state-supported military college in the US. At one point Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson was among the school’s professors; some of his possessions and the bones of his horse are displayed in the campus chapel. Among the many ghosts that are said to appear on campus is a strange blue light which drifts through the halls and...
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The Lee-Fendall House was built in 1785 by the Lee family, 37 members of which lived here from the time of its completion to 1903. It was also owned by the Downham family from 1903 to 1937, John L. Lewis from 1937 to 1969, and quartered hundreds of Union soldiers between 1863 and 1865. Today it is a nationally registered Historic Place and operates as a museum open to the public....
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Longwood University is said to be haunted by a few ghosts on different parts of campus. Tabb Hall, formerly a residence hall and now the home of Longwood University’s Athletics Department, is said to be haunted by a man who died in the building. Rumors state that the Hall once housed an abortion clinic and that a man was murdered inside the clinic. His ghost still roams the room on the...
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The Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History was established in 1974, with its headquarters being the historic Sutherlin Mansion. This 1859 home was originally built for tobacco baron and industrialist, Major William Sutherlin; it was also the temporary home of Confederate President Jefferson Davis who issued his last official proclamation in that capacity during his week’s stay here in...
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Located in what was previously the Belle Grae Inn, Ubon Thai Victorian Restaurant now serves the Staunton area authentic Thai food while still providing overnight lodging. The history of the building date back much further than Belle Grae, however; in fact it was a private residence during the 1800s. Mrs. Bagsby, who resided here in life, is said to have never moved on and still appears...
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Also known as the Governor’s Mansion, this historic 1811 building is the oldest serving Executive Mansion in the United States, having been occupied by Virginia’s governors since 1813. Several renovations took place in the 20th century, and the building was furnished with antiques. Though it is still occupied by the Virginian executive and his family, tours are available several times a...
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The Winton Country Club, established in 1967, is built around the historic 1770 home of Patrick Henry’s mother, Sarah Winston Syme Henry, who lived in the house and was buried in its graveyard after her passing in 1784. Visitors have reported seeing Sarah’s ghost in the house, and others have heard her footsteps and the rustling of her petticoats.
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Built in 1839, the Episcopal High School in Alexandria has operated as a boarding school for most of its existence. However, for a period of five years the campus was commandeered to be used as a hospital for soldiers in the Civil War. Famed poet Walt Whitman was among the staff and acted as a nurse in the hospital. In the rear of the campus is a large wooded area where, during the war...
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Virginia Intermont College was founded in 1884 as a women’s college and began operations as a coeducational facility in 1972. Financial struggles caused the school to become unaccredited in 2013 and subsequently close after the Spring 2014 semester. The school is also said to be rumored by a ghost who likely still remains even after its closure. According to local legend, a girl named...
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Chatham Manor was founded in 1768 by William Fitzhugh as a plantation overlooking the Rappahannock River. In their time the grounds have been the site of a slave revolt, a Union headquarters during the Civil War, and a hospital for wounded soldiers. Today the plantation is part of Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park and open to the public daily for daytime...
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This circa 1830 house is the oldest documented residence in Danville still standing, and was originally used as a home for the city’s first mayor, Captain James Lanier. It is currently being used as a law office and was previously the site of Danville’s first pediatrician’s practice. Visitors to the old building have reported seeing apparitions, hearing mysterious footsteps, and hearing...
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Prospect Hill Cemetery is home to at least two ghosts according to witnesses. The first is an unidentified woman who has been seen dressed in 1880s-style clothing. The second is a man kneeling over his own grave in Soldier’s Circle, crying; he is thought to be saddened by the realization that he has died.
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The Grey Horse Inn was a small Bed and breakfast in The Plains which closed and was sold to private residents in 2011. Before its owners retired, visitors to The Grey Horse reported seeing a ghostly scene repeat itself inside the inn. Witnesses say that they could see the apparition of a Confederate soldier being killed.
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Founded in 1891 as Randolph-Macon Woman’s College, this school did not change its name until becoming co-educational in 2007. Students say there are at least three ghosts haunting the campus, the first of which is an old woman whose apparition has been seen in the West Dating Parlor. Another spirit is said t be that of a student who was murdered while wearing purple clogs; her ghost can...
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The Civil War Medical Museum in Gordonsville has been used for many different purposes since construction finished in 1860. When the building opened as the Exchange Hotel it was, as the name would imply, a bustling hotel located next to a major railroad junction, but two years later its prime location forced it to become part of the Gordonsville Receiving Hospital, caring for wounded...
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Also known as Ramsey Cemetery and the Ramsey Family Cemetery, Norton’s Laurel Grove Cemetery is said to be haunted. Visitors have reported feeling the temperature drop to bizarrely cold levels after midnight and hearing disembodied footsteps. There have also been sightings of shadow figures and leaves moving without a breeze.
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This old cemetery in Lebanon holds the graves of many Confederate soldiers, and at least one of their spirits seems to still be lingering. This ghost manifests in the form of a floating fire which confronts visitors after dark. If you try to run away the blaze will give chase, screaming in a piercingly shrill voice.
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Located on a 28 acre plot, the Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre is home to a historic preservation society. The plot has five historic buildings on it, as well as several archaeological sites. Among them are the 1822 Courthouse, an 1850 Jail, the 1853 Haislip-Hall House, Union Church, and the 1928 one-room Schoolhouse. Several of the buildings are said to be haunted, including the...
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Part of the Confederate defense known as the Howlett Line, Parker’s Battery was the site of many skirmishes during the Civil War. It did not leave Confederate possession until the fall of Petersburg and some say that the spirits of southern soldiers remain there to this day. Witnesses have seen apparitions which they describe as soldiers in their bunkers looking either unhappy or...
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Manassas National Battlefield was the site of two separate Civil War battles which took place roughly thirteen months apart from one another in the summers of 1861 and 1862. Troops clashed for three days in the second battled before Union soldiers gave way to a Confederate victory. The Battlefield Park also contains an unfinished railroad ordered by Robert E. Lee.
Today the field is...
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Built in 1927 on scenic Virginia Beach, the Cavalier Hotel has hosted many famous socialites, businessmen, and artists including F. Scott Fitzgerald and Judy Garland. Adolph Coors of the Coors Brewery died while staying at the hotel in 1929, falling from the hotel’s 6th floor. Since then people have reported seeing an apparition and feeling cold spots on that same floor; some have even...
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The Amelia Wildlife Management Area comprises 175 acres of former farmland along the Appomattox River. It is open for visitation, fishing, hunting, and apparently hunting as well! Several apparitions have been reported in the reserve, most prominent among them a “charred lady” whose burned spirit roams all about the grounds. Several bodies of murder victims have allegedly been dumped at...
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The Wayside Theatre in Middleton delighted audiences with live performances for over half a century, and is rumored to be haunted by the ghost of a former caretaker who allegedly died in a fire. His spirit primarily manifests on the back-porch costume storage, the balcony, and the basement; Seat CC1 was often found to be mysteriously lowered as well. Unfortunately declining sales and...
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At least one employee has reported this store as being haunted. Strange activities are said to mostly occur late at night and include the mysterious sound of footsteps on the roof and shopping carts crashing against shelves for no reason. A shadow figure was once seen moving quickly through an otherwise empty aisle during an overnight shift.
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Mary Baldwin College is a liberal arts school for women in Staunton which was founded in 1842 as the Augusta Female Seminary. Several spots on campus are believed to be haunted, including the Collins Theatre which is said to still be inhabited by actress Tallulah Bankhead, who attended the college in the early 20th century. Tallulah has a habit of playing with the lights and moving...
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Founded in 1693, the College of William and Mary is the second oldest institute of higher education in the US. Over the centuries it is said to have accumulated many ghosts which continue to haunt the campus to this day. In the Wren Building students often hear the sound of phantom footsteps which they attribute to the spirits of either French soldiers or the building’s designer,...
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Known locally as the Potts Mansion, this dilapidated house is said to be haunted by a woman in white. Trespassers have reported feeling uneasy inside and having electronic devices malfunction. The home is not open t the public and may be unsafe to enter.
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The Holiday Inn in Blacksburg was built on a former plantation known as Jacob’s Lantern. A nightclub inside the inn was rumored to be the center of ghostly activity, with laughter and voices coming from the bar after it had closed and emptied for the night. Hotel managers also reported having ghostly guests ask to have the music turned down when no music was playing.
Unfortunately...
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Before this location began serving expertly prepared Italian cuisine as Piero’s Corner, it was operated as another restaurant named Carlos O'Kelley's. It is said that one day a dishwasher who worked in the old restaurant hanged himself inside the building, and now his restless spirit continues to haunt the building! Members of the waitstaff have reported hearing voices when no one else...
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Monticello is the famed former home and primary plantation of Thomas Jefferson, and was largely designed by Jefferson himself. It is today open for tours and visitation, acting as a historic museum that offers a glimpse into American history and the life of its third president. Some say that Jefferson never left his beloved home, claiming to have seen his spirit still walking the...
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Located near the Amelia Courthouse, Haw Branch Plantation was first settled by Colonel Thomas Tabb and his wife, Rebecca Booker, in 1735. The mansion was built ten years later and still stands to this day, though it was left unoccupied and in ruin for a long period before being purchased and restored by the McConnaughey family in 1965. It did not take long before the building’s new...
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During the mid-19th century, this historic home was used as a makeshift hospital by a doctor who was combating an outbreak of yellow fever in the region. One of his patients, the young daughter of a widower sea captain, stayed in the house’s attic until she eventually succumbed to her disease. Having now lost his wife and his daughter the captain was devastated; though he faithfully...
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Emory and Henry College, which was founded in 1836, is said to have at least three ghosts on campus. The sounds of a piano playing have been heard coming from inside the Music Hall, even when the building is supposed to be completely empty. Outside of the Music Hall there is a hanging lamp which swings by itself when there is no wind. It is said that the swaying of the lamp is caused by...
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Aquira Episcopal Church in Stafford was built in 1757 in the shape of a Greek cross. Locals have long said that the building is haunted by a woman who is said t have been murdered in the building’s belfry. Every so often her ghost can be seen peering out from the window.
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The Lyric Theatre can trace its roots back to 1909, although it did not move into its current facility until 1930. Today the theater presents a variety of shows, including cinema, live theater, and music acts throughout the year. Visitors say that the building is haunted, reporting the sounds phantom footstep[s on the stairways, disembodied muttering, and cold spots. It is thought that...
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The Tavern Restaurant was established in 1994, but the building it occupies dates all the way back to 1779. Diners and staff alike agree that the place is haunted, reporting phantom footsteps and objects moving on their own. One of the ghosts who inhabit the restaurant has been nicknamed “The Tavern Tart;” she is believed to have been a prostitute who was murdered by a client and has...
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Home of the Eppes family, this 1751 plantation house is most famous for having been the Union headquarters during the Siege of Petersburg. It is now administered as a historic house museum, and is said to be haunted by the ghost of a Union soldier. The wounded soldier is said to have been hiding in the basement wall by a nurse at some point when the Confederates controlled the building;...
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Built in 1733 by Thomas Randolph and his son William, the Tuckahoe Plantation is presently open for tours and can be booked for private events. The plantation house is said to be haunted by the ghost of a woman who was forced to marry against her will. She died of a broken heart while living in the home, and her spirit can now be seen walking both the building and then plantation...
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The Black Horse Inn takes its name from the Black Horse Cavalry, a Confederate unit which led a successful charge against the Union in the First Battle of Manassas. It was originally built in the 1850s with additions constructed in the early 20th century. After recent restoration work, the current Black Horse Inn took form, containing ten rooms each with a private bath. Visitors have...
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Founded in 1957 as a part of the University of Virginia and made independent in 1972, George Mason University is the largest public research university in the state. According to members of the crew team, however, the school would be ripe for research of a paranormal nature! A ghostly old man has been seen near the docks and dam by numerous students; he is alleged to be Old Man Johnson,...
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Sweet Briar is a women’s liberal arts college founded in 1901 on land bequeathed by Indiana Fletcher Williams in her will. The school was scheduled to cease operations due to financial difficulties after the Summer 2015 session, but following legal action and a change in leadership it was decided that the school would remain open minimally through the end of the 2015-16 academic year....
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Founded in 1867 as Bowling Green Female Seminary, the school has undergone several name changes in its time and has been a coeducational liberal arts school known as Southern Virginia University since 2000. One of the women’s dormitories is said to be haunted by the ghost of a young boy who rides around the fourth floor on his bicycle, holding a red balloon. His mother is said to haunt...
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Built in 1769, Lamb’s Creek Church is still an active Episcopal Church and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. It is one of three buildings that collectively form the Hanover-with-Brunswick Parish of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia. The church is rumored to be haunted a ghostly white lady who first appeared kneeling at the chapel rail before two Confederate...
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Built in 1771, the King’s Arm Tavern has thrived in Colonial Williamsburg for over two centuries, providing guests with food, drink, and live music. The tavern is also said to be haunted by the ghost of a woman named Irma, who is believed to have died in a fire early in the building’s lifespan. Rumor has it that the fire was started by a candle, so Irma has a tendency to blow out...
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Smithfield Station is a waterfront restaurant, hotel, and event site which seems to be popular with both the living and the dead. According to locals, the apparition of a man can often be seen sitting at the bar late at night, long past closing time. Some have suggested that he is the spirit of a person who long ago drowned in the river behind the building after leaving the bar.
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The Wilderness Road Regional Museum was originally two separate homes—one built in 1810 and the other in 1816 by town-founder Adam Hance. The museum is now said to be haunted by the spirit of a young woman, perhaps a former resident of one of the buildings. Her apparition has been seen walking the grounds and standing in a window; lights are also known to flicker on and off.
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The Virginia Quilt Museum first opened its doors in 1995, occupying the Warren-Sipe Home which was built in 1856. During the Civil War the house served as a makeshift hospital; one young Confederate soldier, Joseph Latimer, was brought here after the Battle of Gettysburg, but could not be saved. Latimer’s spirit can still be seen at the top of the staircase, clad in full uniform.
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By the Side of the Road’s main building has a long history, having been built a short time after the Revolutionary War and used as a makeshift hospital during the Civil War. When Union soldiers burned down much of the surrounding area in 1864 this brick building would not catch fire, prompting soldiers to commandeer it as a haven for the wounded. Visitors have noticed some ghostly...
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Natural Bridge is part of a 157 acre parcel of land purchased by Thomas Jefferson in 1774. Renowned for its beautiful scenery, it was not long before the bridge became a popular destination for Jefferson’s personal guests and tourists. Jefferson built a two-room cabin to be used as a personal retreat, and in 1833 a new owner built the Forest Inn to accommodate the rising demand for...
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Bremo Historic District, also known as Bremo Plantation or simply Bremo, is a 1500 acre estate overlooking the James River. In addition a large plantation mansion, two small residences can be found on the grounds: Lower Bremo and Bremo Recess. John Hartwell Cocke had the larger of the two, Bremo Recess, built in 1812 for himself and his wife, Anne, but she died just four years later....
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Abram’s Delight and the land on which it sits were the home of five generations of the Hollingsworth family. The current building was first constructed Isaac Hollingsworth in 1753, and additions were made in 1800 to accommodate his heir’s large family. The house and 35 acres of surrounding property were eventually purchased by the city of Winchester in 1943, thus preserving the oldest...
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Now a regional park and national cemetery, Ball’s Bluff was once the site of an 1861 Civil War battle. 54 soldiers are buried here, making it the third smallest national cemetery, and some of them are said to still wander the park. Apparitions of soldiers in uniform have been reported by multiple visitors over the years. Tours are offered on weekends from spring through autumn.
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There are various versions of the Bunny Man story for which Bunny Man Bridge is colloquial named. Some accounts revolved around patients escaping from a Clifton asylum prison in 1904, but they have been discredited by the fact that there was neither a prison nor asylum in the area at the time. Another version centers on a man who lived during the 1800s.
According to this account, the...
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The Conyers House, which actually consists of two different buildings constructed around 1790 and 1810, is presently operated as a cozy seven-room inn. Before the current owners converted the home into inn it was owned and by a man named Sam Wright, who lived here from about 1944 to 1964 with his wife, Martha. It is said that Sam’s spirit never left the home and that he still haunts it...
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The Olde Towne Inn is centrally located in the heart of historic Manassas, making it a popular spot for both the living and the dead. A ghost named Miss Lucy has been known to manifest in room 51 through 54, sometimes causing guests to levitate off the ground. Lucy has also been seen visiting the inn’s tavern.
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Cook Street Tavern has been serving the Winchester area since 1985, but the restaurant building actually dates back to 1827. It is said to be haunted by two ghosts, a woman named Emily and a man named John Mann. John’s spirit has been seen wearing a long, black frock coat, and Emily is often heard calling John’s name. The duo has been known to move objects around the restaurant and will...
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The Old Post Chapel at Arlington National Cemetery has been in use since the 1930s, and has been the center of haunted happenings for almost as long. Witnesses say they have heard unexplainable footsteps and voices, and seen locked doors open on their own. An apparition has been spotted in the bridal room, which was previously a private mourning room, and on one occasion a soldier...
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Home of the Lees, including Robert E. Lee who was born here, Stratford Hall is a plantation with a main building that dates back to 1725. It was purchased by the Robert E. Lee Memorial Association in 1929 and, following tireless restoration efforts, opened to the public for visitation. The building is said to be haunted by the spirit of Elizabeth McCarthy Storke who, at the age of 14,...
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One of three locations that comprise the American Civil War Museum, the White House & Museum of the Confederacy contains many exhibits and artifacts from the Civil War era. It is also said to be haunted by the spirit of a young boy. Allegedly, this child is the five-year-old son of Confederate President Jefferson Davis.
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A great deal of history can be found at the Shirley Plantation, which is the oldest family-owned business in the United States. The first house built on its grounds dates back to 1613, which may make it the oldest standing home in the US. Another house, built in the mid 18th century, is said to house a haunted painting in its second floor bedroom.
The painting is a portrait of Aunt...
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Founded in 2005, VirginiaHauntedHouses.com is a simple and unique online haunted event & attraction resource created to make it easy for locals to find Haunted House, Spook Walk, Corn Maze, and other Halloween Attractions in their local area.